Adjustable wrench



Aug. 6, 1929. y M. NEUMERKEL Q 1,723,574

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Filed April 11, 1.927

INVENTOR flu WM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX NL'QUMERKEL, OF MADISON, CONNECTICUT.

ADJUSTABLE "WRENCH.

Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to wrenches, particularly adjustable or monkeywrenches and has for its principal object to provide a constructionwhich will be durable, effective and which will permit fine adjustmentof the jaws of the wrench for different sizes of nuts or other jaws forwhich it is to be used.

lVith this and other objects in view my invention consists in the novelconstruction, coml'iination and arrangement of parts will be hereinaftermore fully described and detined in the appended claims.

In the accon'ipanying drawing in which similar reference chit-metersdenote corresponding parts F 1 is an elevation of my new wrench of whicha part is broken away to show certain details of construct-ions; Fig. 2is an enlarged cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlargedcross section on line 3-3 of Fl 1; Fig. t is a view similar to that ofFig. l of the lower part of the wrench also partly broken away showingthe movable jaw released tor coari-ie adjustment; Fl 5 an elevation oi aineditied construction of a sectional wrench of which one sectionremoved to show de tails oi construction; Fig. 6 is a front view of theassembled wrench and Fig. '7 is a cross st .011 on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Retcrring to the drawing more specifically, and iirst the constructimishown in Figs. 1-41: inclusive, the wrench comprises a bar or shanl: 1Otorn'icd at one end with an integral stationary jaw 11 projecting at aright angle to said shank. The upper part or half of the shank 10 hasllat side surfaces while the lower part or half thereof is ofcylindrical shape as at 10. The front edge oi the shank 10 is providedwith a longitudinal groove 10 which extends from the stationary jaw 11to an intermediate point of the cylindrical part 10 oi" the shank.Ellidably supported and guided in the groove 10 by means of a U-shapedmember or brace 12" is a movable jaw 12 which is termed with anextension 12 slidably borne in said groove 10* and whose forward edgehas tine worm thread 12 R0- tatively mounted on said cylindrical portion10 of the shank an externally serrated or ribbed sleeve 13 of brass orthe like to the inner face of which is suitably fixed a second sleeve 14of steel provided toward and away from the stationary 1927. Serial No.182,635.

this internal thread is cut away as at 14 the cut away portion hein 01''a width about equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the rack12 \Vhen the sleeve 13 is given a certain turn the thread let is capableof being brought into mesh with the rack 12 so as to positively move themovable jaw 12 toward or away from the stationary jaw 11 for lineadjustment of the former. When the sleeve 15 is given a certain otherturn the cut away portion 14 of the thread 14 is brought into registerwith the rack 12 and consequently the movable jaw 12 is relez sed toslide treely in. the groove 10 for coarse adjustiiu-int. The sleeve 13is treely rotatable on the cylindrical portion 10 oi? the shank and isheld from slipping off the latter by a head piece 10 provided at theopposite end of the shanlt. The rotary motion of the sleeve 13 on thecylindrical part 10 is limited by a stop pin 15 which cooperates with ashoulder 13 formed by cutting away a part 13 ot' the lower end oi thesleeve 18. \Vhen using the wrench the sleeve '13 is given a turn in acertain. direction so as to bring the cut away part 14 oil the threadlet in register with the rack 12 As a result there of the movable jaw 12can be freely moved jaw 11 permitting a roi'lgh adjustment thereotrelative to thestationary jaw. Upon. this rougl'i adjustment the sleeve13 is turned in the opposite direction to bring the thread 14; into meshwith the rack 12*, thereby positively eil'ecting a line adjustment oi?said movable jaw and at the same time locking the latter againstretrograde nioveniei'it.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 t0 7 the shank 16 ot the wrench iscomposed of two longitudinal and substantially unilorm sections 16, 16which when assenibled are adapted to be riv ttid o1 screwed together asat 16. Each sec ion is termed at its upper end with an integralprojection 17 which when the parts are assembled constitute thestationary jaw of the wrench. Theupper part of each section immediatelybelow the stationary jaw 17 is slanting torwardly and Formed with alongitudinally extending shallow and flat groove 16 which when the twosections are assembled term a groove of rectangular cross section. Eachsection is also provided with a groove 1. of semi-cylindrical crosssection extending longitudinally from the lower end of the groove 16' tothe bottom end of the wrench and which when the sections are assembledform a cylindrical bearing for the purpose hereinafter described.

Freely movable and guided in the rectangular groove 16 is the movablejaw 18. This aw is formed with a forwardly slanting bar like extension18 which is slidably borne in said groove 16' and which is guided andheld in said groove by a rib 16 provided in and extending longitudinallythrough the slanting portion of one of the sections as 16 and engaging aguide groove 18 The rear edge of the extension 18 of the movable jaw 18is formed with worm thread 18 extending through the entire lengththereof. Rotatively mounted in the cylindrical bearing 16 is a spindle19 the upper end of which projects into the groove 16 and is formed to aconical worm gear 23 capable of meshing with the threaded edge 18 of theextension 18 of the movable jaw. A part of this worm gear issuiiiciently cut away as at 23 so that when by turning the spindle 19 itis positioned opposite the toothed edge 18 the movable jaw 18 will bereleased and can be freely moved toward or away from the stationary jaw17 for coarse adjustment. lVhen the spindle is given a certain otherturn its toothed portion will engage the edge 18 and move the movablejaw 18 positively either toward or awayfrom'the stationary jaw 17 andeffect the desired fine adjustment of the movable jaw. The rotation ofthe spindle 19 is effected by an externally threaded sleeve or cap 20which works on the lower externally threaded cylindrical end 16 of theshank 16 and which by screw bolts 21 is coupled to spindle 19. Forlimiting the retationof the latter I use a stop pin 22 fixed in thelower end of the spindle and which cooperates with a shoulder 20 formedby cutting away the lower part of the shank as at 20 Provided in theshank 16 is a member 24 which is pivotally secured in a groove thereof(not shown) v as at 2 1- and which is provided with a toothed projection2 1 adapted to extend outwardly from the stem 7 and capable of meshingwith the toothed edge 18 of the extension 18. This projection 24? isprovided with a cross pin or the like :25 projecting through slots 16 ofthe shank sections and carrying knobs 25' whereby the member 24 may bemanipulated by hand from the outside so as to disengage the same fromthe edge 18 A plate spring 26 tends to hold the toothed projection 24constantly in engagement with the edge 18 The projection 24: acts as asafety lock holding the movable jaw 18 locked in adjusted position.

In use the spindle 19 by a single turn of the sleeve or cap 20 ispositioned so that the broken away part 23 of the conical gear 23registers with the edge 18 of the extension 18 thereof. By pressing themember or part 24 through the medium of the knobs 25 rearwardly thetoothed projection 21 becomes disengaged from the edge 18 as a result ofwhich the movable jaw is released and free to be moved in the stem 16for coarse adjustment thereof. After such coarse adjustment when thesleeve 20 is given a turn in the opposite direction the spindle 19 andits threaded cone is brought into mesh with the edge 18 whereby themovable jaw is positively moved toward or away from the stationary jawfor a liner adjustment. The auxiliary lock 2i prevents retrogrademovement.

The front edge of the movable aw 18 may be roughened or serrated as at18* so as to facilitate the coarse adjustment thereof by hand.

It is understood that various other modifications may be made in thedevice without departing from the principle of my invention and Itherefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details described andshown.

hat I claim is:

1. In an adjustable wrench, a shank formed with a stationary jaw, asecond jaw freely movable in said shank and formed with a threadedextension, a rotary spindle in said shank provided with means forlongitudinal displacement thereof and having a threaded portion of whicha part is broken out, said threaded portion being capable when given acertain turn of coming into mesh with said threaded extension and ofpositively moving said movable jaw to effect fine adjustment, and whengiven a certain other turn to come with its broken out portion intoregister with said threadwl extension releasing said. movable jaw toeffect coarse adjustment.

2. In an adjustable wrench, a shank formed with a stationary jaw, asecond jaw freely movable in said shank and formed with a threadedextension, a rotary spindle in said shank provided with means forlongitudinal displacement thereof and having a threaded portion of whicha part is broken out, said threaded portion being capable when given acertain turn of coming into mesh with said threaded extension and ofpositively moving said jaw to effect line adjustment, and when given acertain other turn to come with its broken out portion into registerwith said threaded extension releasing said movable jaw to effect coarseadjustment, and means for limiting the turning movement of said spindle.

3. In an adjustable wrench, a shank formed with a stationary jaw, asecond jaw freely movable in said shank and formed with a threadedextension, a rotary spindle in said shank provided with means forlongitudinal displacement thereof and having a threaded portion of whicha part is broken out, said threaded portion being capable of beingbrought into mesh with said threaded extension to effect fineadjustment, and of being brought with its broken out portion intoregister with said threaded extension to release said movable jaw forcoarse adjustment and an auxiliary lock to hold said movable jaw inadjusted position.

4. I11 an adjustable wrench, a grooved shank formed with a stationaryjaw, a second jaw formed with a threaded extension and freely movableand guided in the groove of said shank, a spindle rotatively mounted insaid shank provided with means for longitudinal displacement thereof andformed with a worm gear of which a part is broken out and Which iscapable of meshing with said thread-ed extension to positively move saidmovable jaw and effect fine adjustment thereof and when brought with itsbroken. out part into register with said threaded ex tension to releasesaid movable jaw for coarse adjustment, means on said shank for turningsaid spindle and means for limiting the turning movement of saidspindle.

5. In an adjustable wrench, a grooved shank formed with a stationaryjaw, a second jaw formed with a threaded extension and freely movableand guided in the groove of said shank, a spindle rotatively mounted insai d shank provided with means for longitudinal displacement thereofand formed with a threaded extension of which a part is broken out andwhich is capable of opera tively engaging and positively moving saidmovable jaw toward and away from said stationary jaw and of disengagingthe same to release said movable jaw, means on said. shank for turningsaid spindle, means for limiting the turning movement of said spindleand an auxiliary lock for locking said movable jaw in adjusted position.

6. In an adjustable wrench, a grooved shank formed with a stationaryjaw, a second jaw formed with a threaded extension and freely movableand guided in the groove of said bar, a spindle rotatively mounted insaid shank provided with means for longitudinal displacement thereof andformed with a threaded extension of which a part is broken out and whichis capable of open tively engaging and positively moving said movablejaw toward and away from said stationary aw and of disengaging the sameto release said movable jaw, means on said shank for turning saidspindle, means for limiting the turning movement of said spindle and amanually controlled locking means for locking said movable jaw inadjusted position.

7. In an adjustable wrench, a grooved shank formed with a stationaryjaw, a second jaw formed with a threaded extension and freely movableand guided in the groove of said shank, a spindle rotatively mounted insaid shank provided with means for longitudinal displacement thereof andformed with a threaded extension of which a part is broken out and whichis capable of operatively engaging and positively moving said movablejaw toward and away from said stationary jaw and of disengaging the sameto release said movable jaw, means on said shank for turning saidspindle, means for limiting the turning movement of said spindle, and aspring actuated manually controlled means cooperating with said threadedextension for locking said movable jaw in position.

8. In an adjustable wrench, a shank formed at one end with a stationaryjaw and at its other end with a threaded portion, a

second jaw freely movable in said shank and formed with a threadedextension, a rotary spindle mounted in said shank, provided at one endwith a threaded portion having a part thereof broken out and rigidlyengag ing at its lower end a sleeve, said sleeve adapted to engage saidfirst named threaded portion, whereby, when said sleeve is rotated incertain direction said spindle also rotates and the threaded portionthereon comes into mesh with said threaded extension and said. sleevescrews onto said first named threaded portion causing longitudinaldisplacement of said. spindle, the combined action. of said meshing andsaid longitudinal feeding effecting fine adjustment of said movable jaw,and when said spindle is rotated in a certain other direction, saidbroken out portion will register with said threaded extension andrelease said last named jaw for coarse adjustment thereof.

I11 testin'iony whereof I aflix my signature.

MAX NEUMERKEL.

